fringe

fim·bri·a

, pl.

fim·bri·ae

(fim'brē-ă, -brē-ē),

1. Any fringelike structure. Synonym(s): fringe

2. Synonym(s): pilus (2)

[L. fringe]

Farlex Partner Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012

fringe

adjective Referring to healthcare methods and philosophies that lie between therapies representing possible viable alternatives to mainstream medical treatment (e.g., acupuncture, chiropractic, homeopathy and others) and those that are purely speculative, questionable or frankly unethical (e.g., laetrile, psychic surgery).

Segen's Medical Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. All rights reserved.

fringe

adjective Referring to health care methods and philosophies that lie between therapies that may represent viable alternatives to mainstream medical treatment–eg acupuncture, chiropractic, homeopathy and others, and those that are purely speculative, questionable, or frankly unethical–eg laetrile, psychic surgery. Cf Alternative, Integrative, Mainstream Note: In the present work, the author uses the terms fringe medicine, fringe nutrition, fringe oncology, fringe pharmacology, and others to refer to this 'gray area' of alternative health.

McGraw-Hill Concise Dictionary of Modern Medicine. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

fringe

(frinj)

Colloquial adjectival usage for unproven or incompletely accepted health care modalities; often perceived as pejorative by practitioners of these alternative methods.

Medical Dictionary for the Health Professions and Nursing © Farlex 2012